Nebraska Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

A Coalition Dedicated to Ending the Practice of Sentencing Youth to Life Without the Possibility of Parole

Definitely a Lady

This post was written by Mark Rathjen. Mark's wife Justeen is currently serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for an ...

Too Many Days

This post was written by Justeen. Justeen is currently serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for an offense committed in her ...

The (Near) End of Commutations

This board used to commute people. Tough guys like Charley Thone and Jim Exon would commute people. We commute none. Why do we even have ...

Two Letters, 37 Years

Now 54, Luigi has been incarcerated since he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole at age 15. His 39 years served make ...

  • VOICES
  • NEWS
  • THE PEOPLE
  • THE SYSTEM
  • THE DIFFERENCE

From the category archives:

Voices

New York Times

“But it is insupportable to conclude, as the courts did, that children who committed crimes when they were so young were beyond rehabilitation. The laws under which they were convicted violate current human rights standards and the Constitution.”

New York Times
Imprisoning a Child for Life

Los Angeles Times

“Society’s understandable demand for retribution is necessarily blunted when the perpetrator of a crime is a juvenile. Likewise, the threat of a stiff penalty cannot have the same deterrent effect on a youth as it does on an adult; young people have too little experience to fully grasp the consequences of their actions.”

Los Angeles Times
Cruel Life in Prison

Next Entries →

  • Voices

    • Father Val Peter
    • Omaha World-Herald
    • Mel Beckman
    • Fran Kaye
    • Judge John Murphy
    • Jim Cunningham
    • Michael Nelsen
    • Alan Simpson
    • Cal Thomas
    • Washington Post
    • New York Times
    • Los Angeles Times
  • Get Involved

  • Quick Facts

    • There are currently 26 men and women in Nebraska serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for offenses they committed when they were under age 18.
    • Youth in Nebraska have been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole at ages as young as 13.
    • Nebraska ranks 8th among states in its use of these sentences per capita.
    • The U.S. is the only country that allows youth under age 18 to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

  • Sign Up for Updates

  • Friends

    • National Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
    • Voices for Children in Nebraska

To get in touch with the Coalition contact Mel Beckman at (402) 558-2085 or melbeckman@cox.net

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